My lashes lowered, legs shaking, every nerve aflame, every scar screaming. I shoved it deeper, into the locked chamber of my mind where pain could not live.
You’ve survived worse,it spoke again.This is not real.It wavered, tone deepening.You are venom. You are destruction.
It formed into one I knew all too well, sliding through my skull and closing around my spine.
You aredeath.
The litany twisted around me like a crown. My pulse lurched, lips peeling back, laughter breaking free. It was ragged, hysterical. The sound alone made Reve’s face blanch.
When my eyes snapped open, a deep shimmer had risen around him, threading in the air, weaving itself around his tall frame. It wrapped close when, for the first time,hestepped back, hands rising to shield himself.
His features twisted, disgust bold against the shock. “Your face—” The light around him faltered, fading from deep to pale plum, siphoning back into his body as his head shook. “Whatare you?”
I smiled, black heat rising up my arms as I stalked closer.
The shadows above changed as thunder cracked, swallowing his question and my answer whole.
It grew across the camp, eclipsing the pain, the world around us.
The realm split at our feet, hurling skywards as the force landed, sending Reve staggering back.
Ronan emerged from it, rising from the impact, eyes molten, closing the distance in a single stride. Smoke leaked off him in suffocating waves, wings unfurled across his back.
Towering over Reve, one massive hand fisted in his armor, dragging him from the ground until their faces met and Ronan growled, “Mine.”
It should have enraged me, should have split me open with fury at his claim, his audacity.
Instead, it sank deeper, branding itself into me without even touching.
Swiping the blood from my mouth, I raised my dagger, ready to finish what we had started but not before Reve bared his teeth right back to Ronan and said, “Not for long.”
And I was there, fist colliding with his cheek. A snap split the air, bone, knuckle, maybe both. Ronan let him drop and I was already on him, pouncing.
Over and over my fist slammed into his face until blood painted us both and Reve had gone still.
Strong hands seized me from behind, dragging me back from his limp body. I thrashed, only to freeze as a shrill whistle cut the breeze.
Ronan shielded my body just as an explosion burst near where Reve lay.
I kicked, I clawed, I did everything I could to get free of his grip and back to Reve’s blood. Ronan only cursed, holding me back with little effort.
When the smoke cleared, the ground was empty.
Coward.
“Ever wonder what will get you killed faster?” Ronan asked against my back, Brights swarming us in a tide. “Your stubbornness, or your rage?”
My chest heaved, but I forced a laugh. “Aw, you worry for me?”
It came out brittle. All I could think about was how I hadn’t seen anyone as of recently. I didn’t even know if they were alive.
And knowing Reve was here, that his magic could touch them, all I could think about was Elva...
“Don’t flatter yourself.” Fumes lashed from his palm, cutting through four soldiers as they dropped at our feet. Show off. “We all have a bet going, just curious about your odds. Hoping to win.” He crossed his fingers, smug.
I gave him a less-than-appealing gesture before my blade slit across a soldier’s throat, hot blood splattering across my face.
Every godsdamned time.
